Maey l



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

. J. R. GROSS, Deod.

I M. L. CROSS, administrgtrix.

8 8 1 4 Z a M d m E A H N. PETERS. Pholv-Lilhogmphon Wflhinglon. ma

' (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. R. GROSS, Decd.

M. L. GROSS, administratrix. WOOD BENDING MACHINE.

No. 314,229. Patented Mar.24, 1885.

N. PETERS. Photo-Lithographer, wmimm n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. GROSS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; MARY L. CBOSS,AD1WIINISTRATRIX OF SAID JOHN R. CROSS, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MARY L. GROSS, OF SAME PLACE.

WOOD-BENDING MACHlNE.

ELPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,229, dated March 24, 1885.

A pplicatinn filed January 1-1, 1882. Renewed November .20, 158-1. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN It. (Ross, of Ohicago, Cook county, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wood-Bending Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wood-bending machines of the class shown in the patent to S. Sw'artz and myself, dated J an- IO nary 1,1878.

In the machines of this kind the platens between which the wood to be bent is compressed and shaped are sometimes made hollow, so that steam may be admitted thereinto during 1 5 the bending operation and the wood be dried at the same time it is shaped. These hollow platens have heretofore been made of cast metal, as they seemed to be cheaply formed therein, and numbers could be cast from a single set of patterns. In use, however, they are short-lived, as they burst frequently, and besides cannot easily be made with the accuracy of conformation desirable in the operatingsurfaces. To render them tight and able to 2 5 resist the steam-pressure, and also more accurate in their lines upon the shaping-surfaces, I have conceived the present invention,which consists in the novel construction hereinafter set forth, whereby I am enabled to give to the 0 operating-faces the desired shape with such degree of nicety that every part of the wood to be bent will receive its due share of pressure and heat, and slivering and other evils due to imperfectly-formed platens be avoided.

The invention further consists in the novel construction of the platens in other respects, and in the operating devices used for pressing them together, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation, partly broken away, of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same. Fig. 3 shows the frame forming the ends and sides of the platens, and Fig. 4 is a section of one of the platens upon line ,45 wxof Fig. 2.

Each of the platens has an operating-surface, B, a corresponding top or bottom plate, 13', and an intermediate wrought metal frame, B These smootlrfaced plates B and their corresponding plates, B, are of boiler-iron, for the reason that thereby the steampressure within the platens may be forced to any desirable degree without endangering the integrity of the platen, and because they may be readily bent to the form to be imparted to the wood with all needed accuracy. The frames B are formed 60 by bending a bar of wrought-iron of the desired strength to a U form and then completing the rectangle by welding a cross-bar of the same material to the two limbs of the U. Thus in Fig. 3 the long sides at and the end m are of one piece, and the end m is welded to the extremities thereof. This frame is accurately bent to the form desired, regard being had to the thickness of the surface-plate, so that the latter when applied will present strictly the outline sought. The unionof the plates and frame is effected by marginal rivets 0, passing through the three parts, and by stay-bolts 11, passing through the plates and .located in the center thereof away from the frame B These stay-bolts are especially important, as they hold the central parts of the plates firmly together and prevent any collapse or bending by either. The middle partof plate B is strengthened by the strength of theplate B in this manner. The rivets o are countersunk in the plate B, as shown. The upper platen is hinged to the lower one at C, and its free end is forced down upon the material to be bent as it lies upon the lower platen by the pinion D, meshing with depending rack-bars D, secured to the said upper platen. These pinions D are upon shafts D ,which are operated by gears D the latter receiving power from the hand-wheel D through gears D on the shaft D of said wheel. E are guides intended to keep the rack-bar and pinion in en gagement.

F represents the pipes whereby steam is admitted and drawn off from the interior of the platens. The holes in the faces of the platens are countersunk to receive the heads of the rivets, and thereby make a smooth surface.

To prevent thev condensation of vapor upon the edges of the wood while being heated I apply to one of the platens projecting edgeplates G, which, when the platens are brought together, lap over and cover the opening between them, thus inclosing the edges of the wood. This lap is not sufficiently tight to prevent the egress of the steam driven off from the material; but it excludes the outside air and thereby the edges are caused to be as thoroughly cured as the other portions of the board.

.In order that the moving platen may continue its pressure uniformly after the board begins to shrink and during the entire operation, I connect the hand-Wheel D by means of the pulleys H H, rope H", and pins h on the wheels with a heavy weight, H, which, as will be noticed by Fig. 1, exerts a steady pull upon the wheel and compels the taking up of any decrease in the thickness of the ma terial. This enables the apparatus to do its work better and more quickly than it would be able to do if the upper platen were held in a fixed position. This weight may also be employed to hold up the upper platen when not in operation by changing the direction of its pull upon the wheel.

A bending-machine constructed after my invention is exceedingly strong, durable, and safe, and permits very great nicety of shaping and the making of the opposing surfaces of the two platens so that they truly correspond with each other. It also works more quickly than the old apparatus, partly because boilermetal radiates in less time than cast metal, and partly because of the other novel features embodied in the invention.

The invention may also be used in machines designed to dry the wood without bending it, as it is obvious that the peculiar platens, the edge-covering plates, the operating devices, and the weight-pressure would be of equal utility in such machines, and for that reason I do not wish to be limited by my claims to a wood-bending machine.

I claim-- 1. In a wood bending or drying machine, the hollow platen constructed of upper and lower boiler-iron plates, B B, intermediate wrought-metal frame B marginal rivets 0, and central stay-bolts, 12, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of under stationary platen, the upper platen hinged to the lower one, the rack-bars secured to the upper platen, the crank-wh eel, and the gearing,whereby the power of the wheel is transmitted to the rackbar for operating upper platen, substantially as specified.

3. In a wood bending or drying machine, the combination of two hollow platens adapted to be heated by steam, one of said platens being provided with overlapping plates inclosing the side edges of the board without pre venting the escape of the vapor thercat, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with themovingplaten, of a drying and bending machine, and the mechanism for depressing said platen, of a weight connected to said mechanism and exerting a steady force thereon, whereby the shrinkage in the wood is taken up, and an unvarying pressure is secured, substantially as specified.

JOHN R. CROSS. Vitn esses:

H. M. MUNDAY, T. EVERETT BROWN. 

